The sad news comes that Randy Seiler, the former United States Attorney and outgoing chairman of the South Dakota Democratic Party, has died.
Seiler, 76, went into cardiac arrest while running last Thursday and was taken to the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls.
A Herreid native, Seiler left the private practice of law in the early 1990s to begin a distinguished career in the United States Attorney’s office for the District of South Dakota. The capstone of that service was his tenure from 2015 to 2017 as U.S. Attorney. Although a Democrat, Seiler’s nomination received bipartisan support, including from U.S. Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds, and Attorney General Marty Jackley, himself a former U.S. Attorney.
Seiler retired in 2017. The following year, he entered the realm of party politics, accepting the Democratic nomination for attorney general. Although eminently qualified, Seiler’s campaign was inhibited by his liberal views of social issues and the natural Republican inclination of the South Dakota electorate. He lost to Yankton attorney Jason Ravnsborg by a vote of 55% to 45%; Seiler ran at least 8% stronger than any other Democratic candidate that year, except for gubernatorial nominee Billie Sutton.
Following his election loss, Seiler was elected in early 2019 as vice chair of the South Dakota Democratic Party, and within a few months became chairman. In the current political climate that’s a thankless job, and he held it longer than he would have probably liked. His tenure was slated to end on April 30 as he gives way to incoming chair Jennifer Slaight-Hansen.
In addition, Seiler was a longtime community leader, serving on the Fort Pierre city council. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, having served a tour of duty in Vietnam.
On a personal note, although I did not know Randy well, on the several times I visited with him I found him to be warm and engaging. His roles as candidate and chairman perhaps hardened his political edges in his last years, but he remained first and foremost a decent and committed public servant. His passing is a loss certainly for his wife Wanda and their family, but also for our entire state.
Attorney General Marty Jackley knew Seiler far better than I did – like Seiler, Jackley is a former U.S. Attorney and the two worked together in that office. Seiler had even said last year that he would not consider a second candidacy for attorney general if, as in fact happened, Jackley was the Republican nominee. Jackley posted the following on Facebook in memory of Seiler:
Randy Seiler was a brilliant lawyer, a great U.S. Attorney for SD, a strong advocate for victims, a dear friend, and most importantly, an amazing father and husband. Randy became a friend in the late seventies when my dad and he were law school classmates. I have been fortunate to try cases with and against him, as well as in front of him as a Tribal Judge always finding him to be fair with integrity. God speed my friend!
U.S. Senator Mike Rounds made a statement of sympathy on Twitter – Rounds and Seiler lived in the same Fort Pierre neighborhood:
Randy Seiler was not only my neighbor but a good friend. I always appreciated our candid conversations about issues facing South Dakota. He cared deeply for our state and our citizens. Our neighborhood will not be the same without Randy. I’m praying for Wanda and his family.
Jamie Smith, the 2022 Democratic nominee for governor, issued this statement:
Today we mourn the passing of South Dakota Democratic Party Chairman Randy Seiler. Kjerstin and I join with South Dakotans across the state in remembering Randy and his immense contributions to our state. Randy was a good friend, an excellent leader for South Dakota Democrats, and a true gentleman. He led the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota with integrity and spent countless hours sharing his expertise to the Lower Bruce Tribal Nation.
While he had a resume that would impress anyone, it was his roles as husband, father, and grandfather that Randy treasured most. Please keep his wife Wanda and their entire family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. He will be sorely missed.
Incoming South Dakota Democratic Party Chair Jennifer Slaight-Hansen offered her thoughts to The Dakota Scout:
I am in shock. We have lost one of the great leaders of our party. I personally have lost a mentor and friend. I fall short of words to express my sadness on his sudden passing. I pray his soul rests in peace. I wish Wanda and his family immense strength as they move forward.
Finally, I would recommend a nice tribute from Tom Lawrence: “Remembering Randy Seiler, a genuinely good man who cared about his family, friends, state and nation.”
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